Ladd Observatory

Ladd Observatory
Organization	Brown University
Location	Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Coordinates	41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W
Altitude	226 feet (69 m)
Weather	See the Clear Sky Chart
Established	1891 (1891)
Website [1]
Telescopes 12 inch refractor 80 mm transit instrument

Ladd Observatory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Coordinates:	41°50′20″N 71°23′57″W
Built:	1891
Architect:	Stone, Carpenter, and Willson
Architectural style:	Classical Revival
Governing body:	Brown University
NRHP Reference#:	93000583
Added to NRHP:	June 6, 2000

The Ladd Observatory is an astronomical observatory of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The observatory was dedicated in 1891 and is named for benefactor Herbert W. Ladd.

The main telescope is a 12 inches (30 cm) refractor with a lens made by John Brashear following the design of Charles S. Hastings. The equatorial mount and mechanical clock drive were made by George N. Saegmuller.

Besides astronomical research, Ladd sent out a time signal for decades. When they decided to stop the service in the 1970s, they discovered that nobody was currently receiving it.

Ladd Observatory was designed by the Providence-based firm of Stone, Carpenter, and Willson.The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

See also

• List of observatories
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Providence, Rhode Island

References

• Ladd Observatory Encyclopedia Brunoniana by Martha Mitchell

External links

• Ladd Observatory homepage
• Ladd Observatory Clear Sky Chart Forecasts of observing conditions.